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Big W have released a statement confirming the closure of at least 30 stores across Australia over the next three years.

We recently shared the news of Big W’s financial struggles and the rumoured closure of stores across Australia.

A Woolworths Group Spokesperson has confirmed the news that 30 stores will be closed in a statement released today:

“Following an extensive review of the business, we have made the difficult decision to close approximately 30 BIG W stores over the next three years. We will also close two distribution centres at the end of their leases.

They added, “These are not decisions we have taken lightly and we regret the impact this will have on affected team members.

“We have made these decisions to create a stronger and more sustainable store and distribution centre network that better reflects the rapidly changing retail environment.

“We understand the announcement, without confirmation of specific stores, will create some uncertainty for our teams and the communities in which we operate, particularly in regional areas.

Not Only Regional

The spokesperson made it really clear  that they “want to emphasise this review has never been focused solely on our regional stores but our entire network.”

“Details of store closure locations will not be released due to ongoing discussions with landlords. In the interim all BIG W stores will continue to trade as normal.

The majority of our store network is set to remain open and we’re committed to doing the right thing for our team in impacted stores.

We will inform our team members, customers and community stakeholders well in advance of changes to any specific store.”

Big W Should Eventually Return To Profitability

The Australian shared that a report from Macquarie Wealth Management claims in their latest report that half of the Big W store network is located in challenging centres.

“Given the format of Big W stores, we believe it would be difficult to reduce space as Myer is doing and that outright store closure is more likely.”

The report argues that Big W should eventually return to profitability, therefore not justifying a complete closure of the chain, but that a more logical and cost effective strategy would be to “cut the tail” and drastically reduce the 183 stores operating across Australia.

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  • Our store is super popular so i would be shocked if it ever closed.

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  • A sign of the retail times unfortunately.

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  • I love big w
    This is really sad

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  • I love our Big W and absolutely hope it stays open. We waited so long for it. People can’t complain and be outraged… they need to show support with their feet and shop in-store rather than online.

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  • This isn’t a surprise

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  • I feel for those who will be without a job.

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  • Noooooooo! Where are we going to get our last minute everything from now?

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  • What turns me off a lot of stores is the self serve checkouts. I feel like I have to hurry and end up making mistakes and feel stupid. A lot of people also are now shopping online which doesn’t help a lot of stores either

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  • It is a shame that Big W are closing stores, due probably to more younger people shop on line. As mature mum like to see and feel items also find things I want to buy. So I am dissapointed this is happening

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  • This sucks. Quality is so much better than Kmart.

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  • Good! Don’t think any stores around me are closing.
    I quite like big w!

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  • I like that Big W stock branded products not just cheap versions of things, I hope that many of their staff will be able to be given jobs within the company or have the jobs go through natural attrition rather than forced redundancies.

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  • Have watched the decline in the store and I was hesitant about shopping there as I HATE with a passion the self service checkouts. They should have learned with Masters that people don’t like them. To many, shopping is an outing and they want to talk to someone as they purchase their goods. Target has just introduced rows of self-service checkouts and that will be their demise too. The few people left in the store will probably be absorbed elsewhere as they certainly didn’t have many check-out chicks left.

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  • It’s so sad. I feel sorry for those that will lose their jobs but also for those who have to make these hard decisions. Hope my local doesn t close I won’t be able to shop there so easily

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  • I hope it’s not my local! I feel sorry for the workers.

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